Minor Moves: Tuesday
We’ve already rounded up several of the day’s more notable transactions in posts of their own, but we’ll use this space to keep tabs on the 53-man roster moves that may have slipped under the radar. Here’s the latest:
- The Panthers have cut quarterback Matt Blanchard from injured reserve, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Free agent linebacker Rob Ruggiero has been suspended for four weeks by the league, per Wilson (Twitter link) — no word on what led to the ban.
Earlier updates:
- The Raiders have cut linebacker Jamar Chaney, according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune. The club hasn’t yet filled Cheney’s roster spot, but McDonald surmises that receiver Rod Streater, currently on IR-DTR, could soon be added to the 53-man.
- Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who dislocated his shoulder during Sunday’s loss to the Giants, has been placed on the injured reserve list by the Titans, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). According to Wyatt (via Twitter), the team has filled the newly-opened spot on its roster by signing free agent offensive lineman Jamon Meredith, who was cut by the Bengals a week ago.
- The Lions officially removed running back Montell Owens from their roster today, releasing him from IR, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Unless the two sides reached an injury settlement, the move suggests that Owens is now fully healthy.
Sammie Hill Accused Of Sexual Assault
Titans defensive tackle Sammie Hill has been accused of sexual assault and the claim is being investigated by the Atlanta Police Department, according to Jordan Buie of the Tennessean. As Buie writes, a 37-year-old woman in Houston contacted Houston police last Wednesday and reported that she was assaulted by Hill in a hotel room in Atlanta.
Hill, who has two sacks and 25 total tackles this season, has discussed the matter with the Titans, who released the following statement:
“We will let the police investigate the allegation and we will provide any assistance they need. We have discussed the matter with Sammie and we will continue to gather facts.”
We will pass along more information as it becomes available.
Injury Updates: Monday
In our Sunday roundup of the latest notable injury news from around the NFL, we passed along postgame items on a number of players, including several who will miss the rest of the season. Today, we’ll continue to provide updates on those players and others, as diagnoses are modified or confirmed. We don’t cover every single injury at PFR, but we’ll keep tabs on the ones that may require a roster move, with the latest notes added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- While it’s less an injury update than a health update, the Chiefs provided some news on safety Eric Berry today, announcing that the Pro Bowler has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. “This is a diagnosis that is very treatable and potentially curable with standard chemotherapy approaches,” said Dr. Christopher R. Flowers in a statement. “The goal of Mr. Berry’s treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now.” We wish Berry and his family our well-wishes and support as he begins his treatment.
- The Ravens confirmed a Sunday report today, indicating that cornerback Danny Gorrer will miss the rest of the season after tearing his MCL and PCL, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The club will place Gorrer on injured reserve.
Earlier updates:
- As expected, Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger will be out for the rest of the year with an AC joint separation, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The rookie signal-caller may be placed on IR this week to make room for a new addition.
- While Cardinals running back Andre Ellington is expected to miss the rest of the season, cornerback Antonio Cromartie’s injury doesn’t appear as serious as initially feared, GM Steve Keim confirmed today (link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). Cromartie is day-to-day with the injury, which affects the peroneal tendon rather than the Achilles, and will undergo more testing today.
- As first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Chargers have diagnosed punter Mike Scifres with a fractured clavicle. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Scifres is undergoing surgery today, and should be okay to return for the playoffs, assuming San Diego makes it.
AFC Notes: Browns, McCourty, Miller
Let’s check in on a few Monday morning links from around the AFC….
- In his latest notes post at CBSSports.com, Jason La Canfora touches on a handful of topics, suggesting the Colts should take a flier on Ray Rice, speculating that the Dolphins could make an offseason run at Jim Harbaugh, and arguing that the Chiefs need to consider quarterback options besides Alex Smith for 2015.
- It’s time for the Browns to make the switch from Brian Hoyer to Johnny Manziel for the rest of the season, so the team can see what it has for the future, says Tom Reed of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. If Cleveland is going to start Manziel in Week 15, head coach Mike Pettine and the club should make the decision swiftly and announce it soon, rather than letting it linger until the middle of the week again, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
- Hoyer earns a spot on Jason Fitzgerald’s “Stock Down” piece at OverTheCap.com for the second consecutive week, with Fitzgerald suggesting that if the Browns signal-caller gets a chance to start next year, it will likely just be as a stopgap for a team developing a young quarterback. Fitzgerald also writes that the recent play of Titans cornerback Jason McCourty has made him a reasonable candidate to be cut during the offseason.
- On the other hand, Percy Harvin‘s performance on Sunday could make the Jets think long and hard about guaranteeing his “bloated” 2015 salary, given the team’s lack of big-play talent on offense, says Fitzgerald in his “Stock Up” post.
- Appearing on WSVN in Miami, agent Drew Rosenhaus said yesterday that it’s disappointing the Dolphins don’t use his client – running back Lamar Miller – more often, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miller has one year remaining on his rookie contract after this season.
Bucs Now In Lead For 2015 No. 1 Pick
Week 14’s action provided plenty of intriguing developments in each conference’s playoff races, with the Panthers jumping back into the hunt for the NFC South, the Ravens and Steelers separating themselves from the pack of 7-5 AFC teams, and the Cardinals halting their two-game losing streak and hanging onto the top spot in the NFC.
On the other end of the spectrum, another interesting race is shaping up, with the Raiders’ 24-13 upset over the 49ers playing a key role. Oakland’s second victory of the season means that five teams are now tied at 2-11, in contention for the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. Because the tiebreaker for draft order is strength of schedule – teams that faced weaker schedules get the higher picks – the Raiders’ projected draft spot slipped from first to fifth after their win against San Francisco.
Per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, here’s how the top five picks for 2015 currently project, with the team’s strength of schedule percentage and remaining schedule both noted:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (.480); @ CAR, vs. GB, vs. NO
- Tennessee Titans (.488); vs. NYJ, @ JAX, vs. IND
- Jacksonville Jaguars (.519); @ BAL, vs. TEN, @ HOU
- New York Jets (.549); @ TEN, vs. NE, @ MIA
- Oakland Raiders (.590); @ KC, vs. BUF, @ DEN
While those strength-of-schedule percentages will fluctuate a little as the final three weeks of games play out, the wide disparity between the Raiders’ SOS and that of the Bucs and Titans means that even if Oakland loses its final three games, the team will likely need the other four clubs on this list to win a game in order to have a shot at the No. 1 pick.
Meanwhile, although the Bucs are certainly in the driver’s seat for the first overall pick, with the current lead and a schedule that features three teams vying for playoff spots, a pair of games could go a long way toward determining the order at the top — the Titans play both the Jets and the Jaguars over the next two weeks. Barring a tie, that means that at least one two-win club will pick up a victory in Week 15 and Week 16. The Titans could either solidify a top-three pick or fall out of the race for the No. 1 choice entirely, depending on the outcomes of those contests.
The jockeying for postseason positioning at the top of the standings will receive most of the attention over the final three weeks of the season, and rightly so, but the jockeying for 2015 draft position shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly when multiple teams currently in the mix for a top pick will be looking for a long-term answer at the quarterback position.
Injury Updates: Sunday
Let’s take a look at some injuries that could force clubs to make a change to their rosters as they enter the final quarter of the regular season:
- Ravens cornerback Danny Gorrer has ligament damage in his knee and will miss the rest of the season, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The 28-year-old did not tear his ACL, but the damage was severe enough to end his year.
Earlier updates:
- Dolphins safety Louis Delmas was carted off the field in his team’s loss to the Ravens, and Adam H. Beasley and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald write that initial reports are pointing towards a torn ACL. This would presumably end Delmas’ season.
- Percy Harvin had his best game of the season today, finishing with six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. However, the Jets‘ wideout injured his ankle late in the game, and ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini says the veteran’s season could be over.
- Cardinals‘ running back Andre Ellington will likely be placed on injured reserve with his hip pointer, reports Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 AM in Phoenix (via Twitter). Ellington will see a specialist in Philadelphia this week.
- Cardinals‘ cornerback Antonio Cromartie was carted off the field during their tight contest with the Chiefs, reports Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (via Twitter). He suffered an achilles injury (via Twitter). Kent Somers of AZCentral.com writes that Cromartie was unable to put any weight on his left leg (via Twitter).
- Titans‘ quarterback Zach Mettenberger is likely done for the year with a right shoulder sprain, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter). The X-Ray was negative, but an MRI is scheduled for Monday (via Twitter). He had suffered an injury to the shoulder last week as well, but this one could be enough to end his season.
- 49ers‘ defensive back Chris Culliver left the game with a knee injury and has been ruled out for the game, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter). Guard Mike Iupati left the game with an elbow injury and is questionable to return. Both players will deeply impact the 49ers’ playoff chances, and Iupati could also cost himself money as he is prepared to hit free agency this offseason.
Quarterback Notes: Brees, Kaepernick, Orton
With the Saints‘ salary cap situation in disarray, they could look to star quarterback Drew Brees for some relief going forward. Brees is signed through 2016, so a restructuring is unlikely, writes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. Having a $26.4MM cap hit in 2015 puts the team in a tough spot, and based off his play this season, Fitzgerald can’t see the team justifying an extension for him (via Twitter).
What the team is most likely hoping for is a deal similar to the one Tom Brady took with the Patriots, according to Fitzgerald (via Twitter). He described the contract as an “off into the sunset” type of deal, presumably where Brees would take a lower annual salary freeing the team up to spend elsewhere.
Here are a few other notes on quarterback contracts that seem impactful:
- With the 49ers likely to miss the playoffs after their loss to the Raiders, Colin Kaepernick will have a de-escalator in his contract that will cost him $2MM in 2015, reports Joel Corry of CBS Sports (via Twitter). He was set to make $12.4MM next season, but will see that figure drop to $10.4MM without a playoff appearance.
- As Kyle Orton has likely failed to lead the Bills to the playoffs, the team could turn back to EJ Manuel this season or next. If the team went with Manuel in 2015, Orton wouldn’t be an expensive backup. He can void his deal, but if he doesn’t he will only count $1.5MM in guaranteed money against the cap next season, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- For teams still looking to draft a quarterback this offseason, the Raiders’ victory over the 49ers has shaken up the potential draft order. With three games to go, the Buccaneers currently hold the top pick, based on record and strength of schedule, according to Ryan McCrystal of DraftAce.com (via Twitter). Following them are the Titans, Jaguars, Jets, and Raiders, respectively.
AFC Links: Raiders, Colts, Ravens
Following a 2-10 start to the season, Titans CEO Tommy Smith guaranteed that roster changes would be coming. Smith is hoping to acquire as many “tough guys” as possible, recreating the success the team had a decade ago. Via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean…
“The game has changed, I know it has,” Smith said. “But guys like Eddie George never backed down from anybody. Steve McNair, he was the heart and soul of this organization. We need more guys like that, guys who are good people, but when they get in between the stripes, they play hard and they play tough.
“Guys who are tough and play hard and committed to doing things right, that is what we are looking for around here. We need more of that. You can always use more guys like that.”
Let’s check out some more notes out of the AFC…
- Mary Purdy of the Mercury News reports that Raiders team officials met with Floyd Kephart, the man responsible for “assembling a development proposal on the Coliseum property” that would make both the Raiders and/or A’s content.
- Colts running back Trent Richardson will face off against his former team this weekend. Despite his subpar play since being traded by the Browns, the former first-rounder still has plenty of confidence. “When I hear people talk down about me, I just laugh at them and I say, ‘God bless you,’” Richardson said (via Brian Dulik of The Chronicle-Telegram). “I want everybody to see and know that I’m still that running back, I’m still that guy that Cleveland chose with the third pick. A lot of people are saying Trent is a mistake and he was bad and he was that, but I’m telling you folks now, watch these next four weeks and see what happens.”
- ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley believes it’s still too early to label Ravens safety Matt Elam a bust. The writer warns that the 23-year-old could be developing slowly, similar to Jimmy Smith and Paul Kruger.
Extra Points: Titans, Chargers, Rogers
Are you ready for some more football? Another spring football league is on the way, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. On Wednesday, initial plans will be unveiled for Major League Football and it appears that part of their spin will be a play clock that will require teams to get to the line of scrimmage and initiate their next play quickly. The league’s CEO will be former Bears G.M. and former Lions V.P. of player personnel Jerry Vainisi, who helped launch NFL Europe more than 20 years ago. Multiple spring leagues have been formed, and subsequently abandoned, over the years, so we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.
- Titans CEO Tommy Smith is promising sweeping change in the offseason. “The roster is going to look a lot different next year,” Smith told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “Players need to be playing to the best of their abilities right now, and that will determine their future. There may be some players whose contracts might be up, but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to be here. There may be some players with multiyear contracts, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to be here.“
- The Chargers saved only a bit of change by cutting Kwame Geathers, writes Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. By releasing the 24-year-old nose tackle, San Diego saved just $75K in cash. The 6’6″ lineman was said to have made strides this offseason but an August knee injury kept him from the field.
- Raiders cornerback Carlos Rogers was upset with the team’s decision to place him on IR, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com.
- Eric Decker cashed in on free agency when he signed with the Jets, but things haven’t gone smoothly for him since then, writes Mark Craig of the Star-Tribune.
- Colts running back Trent Richardson is pumped to go against his former team, the Browns. “They gave up on me,” Richardson said, according to Zack Meisel of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. “I’m going to go into this game like it’s my last one.“
Titans Sign Jemea Thomas, Cut Brandon Ghee
The Titans have made a change in their secondary, waiving veteran cornerback Brandon Ghee and signing rookie cornerback Jemea Thomas off the Rams’ practice squad to fill the newly-created opening on their roster, according to the club (via Twitter).
Ghee, 27, saw time in 10 games last season for the Bengals and registered five pass deflections and four tackles. The former third-round pick saw the field in just 23 contests for Cincinnati over the course of his career before spending time with the Chargers this past offseason and then landing with the Titans in October.
In six contests for Tennessee, Ghee made four tackles and grabbed his first career interception. However, he had a subpar game on Sunday against the Texans, allowing 74 yards and a touchdown on passes thrown into his coverage, despite playing just eight defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
As for Thomas, the Georgia Tech product has already bounced around the league a little since being drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of May’s draft. Thomas was cut by New England during the preseason, caught on with the Cowboys’ practice squad, then spent most of the season with St. Louis, either on the Rams’ 53-man roster or taxi squad.